MICHELLE OBAMA: So people are voting, as we speak, they are voting for the next President of the United States. So, pretty exciting.

TOM JOYNER: It felt good. It felt good yesterday when I got to work, I got all these text messages from people in line, in the rain, to early, to early vote in Ohio.

MICHELLE OBAMA: You know, that is just it. That’s, that is amazing news on so many different levels, Tom and Sybil, you know, because you all have been working so hard to push voting. You know? And I always say this, whether you vote for my husband, or whether you vote for somebody else, the point is that we have to be engaged in this political process. We have to make sure our voice is heard, are heard. So it is very refreshing to hear that people are pumped up, standing in line, not you know, not taking anything for granted. So that’s good news.

TOM JOYNER: Yeah.

SYBIL WILKES: And especially young black men. One of our commentators, Jeff Johnson, has an organization called Black Men Vote. And it really is vital, that this year especially, that we get a lot of those people who are described, not necessarily are, but are described as disaffected voters.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Mm-hmm.

SYBIL WILKES: And I’m sure you’re seeing some of that, and really telling them what the issues are and how important it is that they get there.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Well, and as we’ve seen over the past several years, I mean not just the past four years, but for the past decade, you know, who’s in the White House determines so much …

SYBIL WILKES: Yes.

TOM JOYNER: Mmm.

MICHELLE OBAMA: … about how our country looks. You know, whether or not we have healthcare, when we go to war and why. Who’s on our Supreme Court? And the decisions that that Court makes. You know, how our tax policies work. I mean, you know, whether kids have money for college grants and student loans. I mean all of that. And, and for young people, you know, it is so important for them to understand that they’re going to inherit all of this. You know? Like it or not. You know, Barack and I, you, Sybil, all of us. We’re going to be moving on to the next phases of our lives and all of these challenges are going to wind up on their lap.

TOM JOYNER: Yeah.

MICHELLE OBAMA: And, you know, I want them to be actively engaged as early as possible in shaping the country that they’re going to live in and have to raise their kids in.

SYBIL WILKES: And give somebody, and give those people that your husband needs, to get these laws passed …

MICHELLE OBAMA: Absolutely.

SYBIL WILKES: … in the House, in the Senate.

TOM JOYNER: Yeah.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Well, we’re understanding that, you know, you can have a president you love, but if you don’t have a congress that’s willing to work, you know, you wind up stalled in so many ways. And I think that Barack has done a phenomenal job working around a congress that has never been willing to help move the country forward on so many different issues. But I think he’s done everything humanly possible to get things passed around the margins. But, you know, just imagine where this country will be when we have Barack Obama as President and we have a congress that’s ready to work hand-in-hand, and willing to compromise to make sure that this country moves forward for everyone.

TOM JOYNER: Yeah.

MCHELLE OBAMA: It’s critical. It’s critical. This is an important month before us. You know? And the debates are going to happen this evening, as you very well know. And I think it’s important for people to tune in, just to make sure they understand where each candidate stands on the issues.

TOM JOYNER: I think everybody is going to be tuned in. This is going to be a big ratings night, (Chuckle) tonight.

MICHELLE OBAMA: (Laugh)

TOM JOYNER: It’s going to be huge rating.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Well, I’ll be there.

TOM JOYNER: And how’s the Big Chief? Is he ready?

MICHELLE OBAMA: He’s good.

TOM JOYNER: Yeah?

MICHELLE OBAMA: He’s been in debate prep so he’s, you know, they work hard on these debates.

TOM JOYNER: Uh-huh?

MICHELLE OBAMA: You know, so I think he’s calm, and I, you know, I think he’s going to do well because he’s done a great job …

SYBIL WILKES: Yes he has.

MICHELLE OBAMA: … over these past four years. And he has a really good, solid common sense plan for moving this country forward. Lowering the deficit in a balanced way …

TOM JOYNER: Yeah.

MICHELLE OBAMA: … making sure that the wealthiest of us pay a little bit more, while we’re still cutting trillions of dollars off of the budget. You know, but having money to invest in cleaning our environment and making sure that kids get the education they need. That we’ve got teachers in the classrooms, that we’ve got police officers on the street. You know, that we’re building our roads and our bridges. I mean it’s a plan that is broad-based and really thinking about building, you know, as he says, an economy that’s built to last. And it requires discipline in terms of our fiscal responsibility, but it also requires a level of investment in our future. And our future is our young people that we’ve got to make sure they’re getting the kind of education that they need. And that costs. There are costs there.

TOM JOYNER: Are you going to give him the ceremonial fist bump before he goes out?

MICHELLE OBAMA: (Laugh)

TOM JOYNER: With a hug and fist bump?

SYBIL WILKES: Not only is this the number one debate, but this is your anniversary tomorrow.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Sounds good. Make sure people go to gottovote.com. They got to register. You can’t vote if you’re not registered. And registration deadlines are fast approaching. And don’t procrastinate. If you can early vote do it now and then spend Election Day helping to get other people to the polls.

TOM JOYNER: Yeah.

SYBIL WILKES: Wonderful.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Thank you all so much. You all are amazing.

SYBIL WILKES: No, you are amazing.

TOM JOYNER: No, you are amazing. (Laugh) You are amazing. Thank you. Thank you, First Lady.